Next, began the preparations for the Thermopolium. Magister Perry gave the middle class students a menu, assigned prices for food, made seating arrangements, and set up the Thermopolium. Sarah, a Romani Equites, was part of the behind-the-scenes team. She comments, "We tried to make it very punny. It was fun to see [people's faces] when they understood the jokes!" Once all the stands were set up, the lower classes and the nobles were allowed to enter. Students were given various amounts of "money" based on their social class. The lower class, or plebes, had to work to impress the nobles and earn money. Some made paper trinkets, others told fortunes while others provided music and dance. The middle class families took turns running the food stalls. The food served was authentic Roman food, including panem (bread) and moretum (garlic cheese). Once the Thermopolium ended, the hungry students were told to report to the patio behind Andrews Hall to meet the "new guy", a clever word play on the Latin word for "nonsense" (nugae). Students were treated to pizza and played Sardines around the campus.
After a long day, students attended Epistulae and Magister Cavedo awarded Praemia Fabulosa for various activities. Valete, omnes!
